On Saturday The Girl and I cleaned out the garage. We wiped down the walls, pulled out the shop vac and sucked all the cobwebs from the walls and swept the floor. These days our garage is pretty stinkin’ clean. What with the neighborhood yard sale and all last month, we are pretty much down to things we actually use and/or need. And you know what? It feels AWESOME.
There was however one last box to go through… Our high school yearbooks.
And as it would turn out, my mother’s senior yearbook as well. She’s the one in the center. Can you see the resemblance? Take away the poofy hair, add some thick glasses, and I swear we could totally be twins. We have different noses, but other than that we pretty much look alike. Which is pretty cool cool if you ask me because I know exactly what I’ll look like when I’m older.
The one surprise in the box though was a year book from 1934. At first I thought it might be my grandfathers, but as it turns out, it was my grandfather’s sister’s yearbook. How it ended up in our garage, I have no idea.
If the average high school student was 16 in 1934, that would make them 99 years old now. How crazy is that? I wonder how many are still living? And how many, if any, are still hanging on to their high school yearbooks?
When was the last time you looked through one of your high school yearbooks? I’m sure they are all pretty much the same inside with notes from first boyfriends, comments from classmates you don’t even remember, and the reflections from friends that even at the ripe old age of 44, you’d still be embarrassed if your parents read them.
“Sometimes I don’t feel like saying I love you is enough. But you say it is so I won’t complain. You are truly special to me. I honestly can say I don’t know what kind of person I would be right now if I wasn’t going out with you. You encourage me, you motivate me what can I say; your the greatest. But most important of all you know how to make me laugh and feel good about myself; that’s why I love you, because your the best, your incredible, your like me, your sensitive, your sweet your romantic and I love you more than anything in the world.”
*I wonder if he ever figured out the difference between your and you’re?
The HH and I both had to move during high school {me just before my junior year and the HH right before his senior year}. It was devastating for both of us at the time.
This was what his best friend wrote in his yearbook:
“You have been my best friend for 4 years, and I’m going to miss you ‘ol pal! I’m going to miss your parent’s too; they’re real nice. We both didn’t have too much luck with girls, but waiting finally paid off for you. You and Heather make a pretty nice couple. I hope that you and Heather have good luck with your relationship and good luck in your senior year.”
And then he found what Heather, his girlfriend at the time wrote:
“Darling, {clearly she was the dramatic type,} I’m so so glad I met you this year, I’m really sorry that it wasn’t sooner. I wish that you were not moving at all! I can’t believe some of the things you say about me, like my being so pretty, which is not true! Thank you for being there every time I needed you! I love you.”
Look at us! We look like babies. And we had some seriously rad hair too. 😉
Are you still hanging on to your high school yearbooks? If so, when was the last time you looked through them? Is there anything juicy inside? Do you even remember half of the people in there? Have you been to a high school reunion? Curious minds want to know.
~Mavis
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Connie says
My husband and I have gone to quite a few of my high school reunions, as well as his. Last October, we went to his and it was costly. The food was horrible and the room was small, so it wasn’t a comfortable atmosphere. We decided we wouldn’t go to any more. We would rather enjoy a nice dinner out, just the two of us.
Jenny Young says
I’ve told my husband we MUST burn all of our love letters before we die. We met in college, I was 18 & he was 22 the cradle robber! We married 3 yrs later & are still married after 30 yrs.
Jamie says
I had a newborn and no money for my first reunion and was recovering from surgery for my second one (they caught it weeks before I had cancer), so no reunions for me.
I also totally mutilated my high school yearbooks last year. I tore out all the sections relating to graduating classes that were not my year, or activities I was not involved in. I kept stuff about friends, all the well wishes, etc. Not as pretty, but it takes up about 1/7th or less of the space.
Patty P says
I have my yearbooks at my mom’s house. Sometimes I look at them when we visit around the holidays. I don’t remember half of the people in my class. I don’t live in the area anymore, so don’t really run into people from school. My youngest sister still lives there and tells me about people from my class and my response is “Who? I don’t remember them!” I keep in touch with a few of my friends from HS, but mostly only through email and Christmas cards. I haven’t been to any of my reunions and won’t go to them….I have no interest in it. I did go to one of my husband’s reunions, but we still live where he grew up (in wine country) so generally the reunions are at a local winery.
Helen in Meridian says
I took the dh to a lake party at McCall recently. 50th Reunion was 3 years ago. My classmates commented they had never met my husband. i always went but for one reason or another they thought I had a phantom husband. I have gone to his but work, move, new jobs took him away during mine. For 4 years the girls from my class gather for lunch at an area restaurant. After 50 years we are very supportive of one another. As I say 95% of the high school crap is forgiven but that last 5% will never be forgiven.
bobbi dougherty says
OMG, you have prompted me to go and look at them now! I know where they are too, :). Actually, I am going to stay with my best friend from HS for a long weekend so we can catch up, and I will take them along! haha, good times!
Marcia says
I still have my HS yearbooks. Haven’t looked at them in awhile. I had the big 80s hair too. Oh boy.
I moved between 10th and 11th grade. Seriously THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.
At my old school, I was bullied pretty much constantly from 2nd grade on. Because, ya know, being smart isn’t cool. At all.
At my new school, even though it wasn’t far away, they weren’t quite the same level of jerk. Some of them were. But not most. Then again, it could be that all they knew about me was that I was on the volleyball team. By the time they realized I was a nerd it was too late. Most of them already liked me.
Marcia says
Also, I went to the 20th and 25th reunions for my new hs. I’ve never gone to any for the school I attended for 11 years (kinder-10th).
Next year is 30, if it lines up for our trip home to visit family (opposite coast), then I’ll go. Last time we made it work.
Ellen in Clackamas says
I grew up and went to a small school (Sequim HS). Our class was very close and many have kept in touch over the years. We always have a good turn out at our reunions (my 50th will be here in 3 yrs–YIKES–how did that happen?). We also have “All School Reunions” and anyone who went to school there can come. Always see a lot of folks I remember. I guess I am lucky–many of the people I work with have never been to their reunions and say they have no desire to go.
Sarah says
I have yearbooks from 6th grade through senior year. I didn’t have the best school experience and after being reminded of the whole Konmari “spark joy” thing, I’m pretty sure I’ll be recycling those annuals in a purge this winter because. I might scan a few pages if they bring good memories/feelings.
Will you be keeping the annuals, Mavis?
Mavis Butterfield says
I decided to toss 2 of mine.
Beth says
Thanks for sharing about the Dunkin Donuts flavored coffees Mavis 🙂 Love me some flavored coffees!!! I love flavored coffee and it allows me to avoid the calories in flavored creamer, I use 2 percent milk instead because I use so much – half coffee/half milk, wouldn’d work with creamer.
Gigi says
I went to my 10 year reunion. I can’t remember most of the people (don’t really care to anymore). I made a comment about “people should have name tags” and the response was “Why? Everybody already knows everyone.” That sums up a small town for you where no one move away.
Tammy says
I was homeschooled. So…I guess family get togethers are as close as I’m going to get to a high school reunion. LOL
At one time, my great grandparents moved and we ended up with their high school year books. They had been in a box to donate, that my dad saw before he donated the box, so saved them out. They wanted them back (even though they almost threw them out) and so we never really got to look through them thoroughly! Not even sure who has them or if they are even around.
Mable says
My neighbor recently flew to her 75th high school reunion—20 others attended as well.
Mavis Butterfield says
WOW!!!! That is awesome.
KAYTHEGARDENER says
My spiteful siblings threw out all my memories of school, hobbies, & awards that were being saved at my mother’s house for me. Next weekend I am going to my 50th high school reunion & wish that I had anything to review beforehand…
Brianna says
I never got an invite to my 10yr reunion. I had a friend call me after the reunion with the rundown. I didn’t really care who was who, who married who, who got a degree in this, who drove what, etc. But, she informed me they had my name and senior photo on the ‘In Memoriam’ board! I guess that explained why I didn’t get an invite. My brother was the one who passed away, not me, but apparently nobody bothered to figure that out. I haven’t looked at my yearbooks since I left high school, but I did throw all of my brothers away. It was too painful to read some of the mean and hurtful things that were written in his. I suppose I probably will not get an invite to my 20th in a few years and I’m ok with that. I prefer a much more private life nowadays.
Michelle says
I still have all my yearbooks. Don’t look at them much…nothing juicy in them. I didn’t go to my 10th year reunion; not sure if there was a 20 year. This is the 25th year and it doesn’t look like one was planned…unless it was posted on FB which I don’t have. I rocked the big bangs too Mavis…two words…Aqua Net! 😉
Mavis Butterfield says
Aqua Net was the best! After all that teasing, I can’t believe I still have any hair left. 🙂
Vivian says
Mavis, 14 of my dear high school girlfriends meet once a year for a get together for 3 days. We meet in a different location each time and have done so since we were 40 and this year we will be 78! We have a fabulous time catching up. Some of the husbands have passed away but the women are still going strong! What a very special relationship we have together and we all value it greatly. One of the ladies has even written a book about it. Such fun!
Crystal says
I actually have a random person’s yearbook as well as my own. I’m not sure why- maybe they asked me to sign it and I just somehow didn’t give it back? Even though I don’t care that much about my own yearbooks (though now, of course, I think I need to go through what everyone wrote, since I haven’t looked in years), I do feel bad that I have someone else’s book- because I don’t know if she is someone who would really treasure it or not.
I went to my 10 year reunion. It was small, only about 30 people out of about 100 some who graduated (and some people who were in our class but didn’t graduate were invited, because we went to school with them and want to make sure they know we aren’t judging them), and it was held in the backyard of a friend of mine’s parents’ house. Since I still talk to/hang out with the person who was basically hosting it, it seemed silly to not go. Ultimately, I had a good time, but it wasn’t any kind of amazing experience, and it didn’t cause me to keep in touch with anyone I wasn’t already in touch with or anything.
Pam says
I graduated with a class of 600+ kids (baby boomers!). I would estimate that 75% of the class still lives within 50 miles of where we graduated. I couldn’t get out of that town fast enough – I moved 8 states away less than a month after graduation. I think they had about 100 people show up for the five year reunion and attendance has gone steadily down since then. This year was our 40th reunion and I was told there were about 30 people there. I figure if the folks who still live in the town don’t want to be bothered to attend, why would I spend 2 days in the car or a ton of $$$ on air fare, hotels and car rentals to attend. I had one “bestie” in high school and a bunch of casual friends I hung with. Bestie and I are still in contact. Haven’t talked to most of the rest of them in years.
I do still have my yearbook though and never fail to smile when I look at it. High school wasn’t my finest moment but I have some pretty amazing memories of that time. It reminds me how complicated everything seemed at the time but how simple it actually was (hindsight is always 20/20).
By the way Mavis – I have my mother’s high school yearbook. Class of 1939. I look through it more often than I look through my own.
UpstateNYer says
If you want to get rid of your yearbooks, please contact the local library where your school is located. Some libraries have a collection of them and use them for historic references.
UpstateNYer says
Facebook is a wonderful way to search for old schoolmates! Sometimes it is fun to reconnect!
Heidi says
LOVE the senior photos of you and your husband. I must say I think you look like siblings. 🙂
For some reason, I too cannot remember much from high school. I only remember a few people. I went to my 10 year reunion and had no idea who these people were who were coming over to say “hi”. I had a chaotic home life and I guess I just wasn’t all there at school.